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SCENIC AND HISTORIC 

PLACES AND OBJECTS. 



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LEGISIiflTORE OF TpE STATE OF HEW YOl^K- 



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OFFICERS. 

President : 
ANDREW H. GREEN. 

Vice-President : 
JOHN M. FRANCIS. 

Treasurer : 
EDWARD P. HATCH. 

Secretary : 
JOHN WINFIELD SCOTT. 

Executive Committee : 
The President, ex Officio. 
HORACE PORTER, ... ^VILLIAM H. WEBB, 

WALTER S. LOGAN, •..''HENRY E. HOWL AND. 

Finance Committee : 

CHAUNCEY M. DEPEW, SAMUEL D. BABCOCK, 

ELBRIDGE T. GERRY. 



Ot-i ^ z 71^ a ^ 

MEMORIAL. 

To the Honorable /8^'9^ 

The Legislature of the Stale of New York; 

The Memorial of the undersigned respectfully represents 

that : 

The present aspect of the financial affairs of the btate may 
well be contemplated with satisfaction. With no debt of con- 
sequence, with no occasion for creating one, with a moderate 
rate of taxation, and with the reasonable expectation that this 
will be further reducedjby the contributions of those derivmg 
great profits from franchises granted by the State, the six mil- 
Hons of her people certainly have reason for congratulation, 
despite existing business disturbances. 

These conditions, however, if we may predict what it is to be 
from what has been, are sure to invite schemes ostensibly for 
the pubhc benefit, but really for private gain, that will encou- 
rao-e extravagance, deplete the treasury, and again rear a mon- 
ument of debt to be paid by an increase of the burden of tax- 

a,tion. -11 

The ends sought to be accomphshed by this memorial make 
no demand upon the treasury ; its purpose is in the opposite 
direction, that of economy rather than of expenditure, and it 
relates to a class of objects that will be likely at this time to 
command very general interest and cordial co-operation, and 
over which, in the interest of the people, the State may well 
extend the segis of its protection. 

Within the domain of the State, from Montauk to Chautau- 
qua and from the Atlantic to the St. Lawrence, are numerous 
places memorable by conflicts during the half-century of the 



French and Indian wars of the Colonial era, and others by the 
more recent stern conflicts of the Revolution. 

While patriotic sentiments and traditions still keep alive the 
memory of these events by means of which we are what we are, 
the visible evidences that are an essential aid to preserve them 
for coming generations are fast disappearing. 

Turning to more peaceful scenes, we find within the bounda- 
ries of the State a remarkably varied topography, comprehend- 
ing landscapes of world-wide celebrity, as well as localities of 
deep interest and of peculiar beauty. 

There readily recur the catalogue of its majestic rivers and 
its incomparable lake areas, its mountain surfaces, its unparal- 
leled water spectacles, its picturesque islands, and its extensive 
ocean shores alternating with beetling cliffs, beaches where the 
billows rise and sink, and shifting dunes whirled about with 
every gust of rugged winds. 

Areas of primitive natural beauty are being seized upon for 
private uses and for profitable enterprises that are not unlikely 
to exclude the public from their enjoyment, and especially is 
this the case in the vicinity of the large cities. 

It would seem a fitting time that [conservative methods be 
devised by means of which objects of historic value, localities 
where patriotic struggles have taken place, where peculiar at- 
tractive natural scenery obtains, or made interesting by asso- 
ciation with illustrious personages, should be rescued from the 
grasp of private speculation and preserved for public enjoy- 
ment, subject only to such restrictions as make for the public 
pleasure. 

The State has already entered upon a somewhat similar policy 
in the acquirement of the Niagara Reservation and the Adiron- 
dack forests. 

To this end I would respectfully suggest a continuing or- 
ganization of substantial, respected, and well-known citizens, 
selected without reference to political predilections, upon whom 
should be conferred adequate power and authority — 

1. To acquire, hold, maintain, improve, and administer his- 
toric places and objects and picturesque areas of natural 
scenery. 

2. To receive by devise or other conveyance such places,. 



areas, and objects in fee, or upon such trusts as may be agreed 
upon by the donors and the Association, 

3. To accept, hold, and administer such lands and other pro- 
perty as may from time to time be entrusted to its care by the 
■State. 

4. To act, jointly or otherwise, with such persons as may be 
appointed by other States for the attainment of like purposes 
or objects for which this Association was designed, whenever 
those purposes and objects can only be secured by the joint 
action of two States, or when the subject of such action lies 
within the jurisdiction of two States. 

5. From time to time to report to the Legislature, by bill or 
otherwise, such recommendations and suggestions as are perti- 
nent to the objects of the Association. 

All property acquired otherwise than from the State to be 
the property of the Association, but no dividend to be made or 
any pecuniary profit to accrue to its members. The title and 
ownership of whatever property belonging to the State or here- 
after acquired by the moneys of the State, that comes under the 
management of the Association, to remain forever the property 
of the State and subject to the control of the Legislature. 

It not infrequently occurs that an individual or a number of 
persons desire to establish a memorial of a friend or a relative 
or of some especially worthy example or event. What more 
fitting than the conveyance, to an organization especially cre- 
ated to take charge of it, of some area of land or common of 
striking characteristics for public use and enjoyment, accom- 
panied with sufficient pecuniary means to insure its proper 
care ? 

Furthermore, it would be directly in the line of public 
economy to provide, in any law that may be enacted to accom- 
plish those purposes, that in some form the powers of the various 
commissions, each now having charge of State property held 
for the public pleasure, as distinguished from eleemosynary, 
charitable, punitory, or administrative uses, should gradually be 
absorbed under the management of the proposed Association. 

This may be done easily and without offence by a simple 
provision that when a vacancy occurs in the membership of 
any existing commission, by expiration of present term of office 



or otherwise, it shall be filled by a member of the Association 
herein proposed,'and to be appointed by it ; and when the terms 
of all the members of any existing commission have expired, 
the subject of their care is to be transferred to that of the Asso- 
ciation. 

The members or managers of said Association to give their 
services without compensation and to have'no pecuniary inte- 
rest in its affairs. 

Of the sixty counties of the State there is'not one without 
some area or object in which public interest, local or more gen- 
eral, is not enlisted in a greater or less degree ; and not a hamlet 
where a spirit of patriotic sentiment may not be developed by 
a judicious movement to preserve the memorials and traditions 
of the past, and to save them from effacement and disfigure- 
ment. 

It is hoped that the authorities in charge of the important 
topographical survey of the State now in progress by the united 
agency of the State and of the National Government, will take 
pains to indicate on their maps places of historic interest and 
of attractiveness. 

It cannot be but that the intelligent administration of these 
objects and areas will tend to quicken a spirit of patriotism to 
act as an example and stimulus to a higher standard of care of 
public grounds in the villages and towns throughout the State, 
and to cultivate attachment to localities — a most desirable influ- 
ence to be fostered. 

A bill is herewith submitted to give effect to the suggestions- 
above mentioned, cast, it is hoped, in the form that will be 
found obnoxious to no serious objection. 

ANDREW H. GREEN. 
New York, January, 1895. 



ACT OF INCORPORATION. 



CHAPTER ]66. 

AN ACT to incorporate the trustees of scenic and historic 
places and objects, and to provide for the care of certain 
property of the state. 

Became a law March 26th, 1895, with the approval of the Governor. 
Passed ; three-fifths being present. 

The People of the State of Neiv York, represented in 
Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows : 



Section 1. The following 
William H. Webb, 
Samuel D. Babcock, 
John M. Francis, 
Andrew H. Green, 
Charles A. Dana, 
Oswald Ottendorfer, 
Chauncey M. Depew, 
Horace Porter, 
William Allen Butler, 
Mornay Williams, 
George G. Haven, 
Elbridge T. Gerry, 
Walter S. Logan, 
Henry E. Howland, 
Edward P. Hatch, 
WilHam L. Bull, 



persons : 

James M. Taylor, 
J. Hampden Robb, 
Ebenezer K. Wright, 
Alexander E. Orr, 
William H. Evarts, 
Wager Swayne, 
Charles R. Miller, 
Frederick W. Devoe, 
Elbridge S. Spaulding, 
Frederick S. Tallmadge, 
Thomas V. Welch, 
S. Van Rensselaer Cruger, 
Frederick J. de Peyster, 
Morgan Dix, 
John A. Stewart, 
Charles C. Beaman, 



8 

Francis Vinton Greene, Alexander B. Crane, 

Peter A. Porter, John Hodge, 

M. D. Raymond, Robert L, Fryer, 

George N. Lawrence, J. S. T. Stranahan, 

Benjamin F. Tracy, Samuel Parsons, Jr., 

Augustus Frank, Charles A. Hawley, 

Charles Z. Lincoln, Henry E. Gregory, 

John Hudson Peck, Frederick D. Tappen, 

Sherman S. Rogers, Henry J. Cookinham, 

William Hamilton Harris, Henry R. Durfee, 

Lewis Cass Ledyard, H. Walter Webb, 

and such others as shall become associated with them in the 
manner and upon the terms and conditions prescribed by the 
by-laws of the corporation hereby created, are hereby consti- 
tuted a body politic and corporate by the name of trustees of 
scenic and historic places and objects, with all the powers and 
subject to the pro\dsions of the third title of the eighteenth 
chapter of the revised statutes, except as otherwise provided by 
this act, and shall be capable of purchasing, taking, receiving 
and holding by gift, grant, devise, bequest, or otherwise, in 
trust or perpetuity, real and personal estate for the uses and pur- 
poses of said corporation, the value of which shall not exceed 
one million dollars. 

Sec. 2. The objects of said corporation shall be to acquire by 
purchase, gift, grant, devise, or bequest, historic objects or mem- 
orable or picturesque places in the state, hold real and personal 
property in fee or upon such trusts as may be agreed upon be- 
tween the donors thereof and said corporation, and to improve 
the same ; admission to which shall be free to the public under 
such rules for the proper protection thereof as said corporation 
may prescribe, and which said property shall be exempt from 
taxation. 

Sec. 3. The affairs and business of said corporation shall be 
conducted by a board of not less than thirteen nor more than 
twenty-five trustees, a majority of whom shall be a quorum for 
the transaction of business. The fifteen persons first named in 
the first section of this act shall constitute the first board of 
trustees, shall establish the by-laws of the corporation, and 



9 

shall continue to hold oflBce until others are elected in their 
stead, as provided by the said by-laws. Vacancies in the board 
of trustees may be filled by the remaining trustees until other- 
wise provided for in the said by-laws. 

Sec. 4. None of the trustees or members of said corporation 
shall receive any compensation for services, or be pecuniarily 
interested directly or indirectly in any contract relating to the 
affairs of said corporation, nor shall said corporation make any 
dividend or division of its property among its members, mana- 
gers, or officers. 

Sec. 5. The board of trustees shall annually, at a time to 
be fixed by the by-laws, elect or appoint from their number 
the following officers : a president, vice-president, and trea- 
surer, who shall hold office for one year and until their 
respective successors are elected or appointed, and shall per- 
form such duties as are provided by the by-laws. The board 
of trustees may also appoint a secretary and define his duties, 
and shall have the power to manage, transact, and conduct all 
business of the corporation, to prescribe the terms of admission 
of its members, and to appoint and fix the compensation of, and 
remove its employees at pleasure. The said corporation shall 
have no capital stock, and shall have no power to sell, mort- 
gage, or otherwise encumber any of its property. 

Sec. 6. Said corporation shall annually make to the legisla- 
ture a statement of its affairs, and from time to time report to 
the legislature, by bill or otherwise, such recommendations as 
are pertinent to the objects for which it was created, and may 
act jointly or otherwise with any persons appointed by any 
other state for similar purposes as those intended to be accom- 
plished by this act, whenever the object to be secured or purpose 
sought to be accomplished is within the jurisdiction of this and 
any other state or can only be attained by such joint action. 

Sec. 7. This act shall take effect immediately. 



10 

The following section was in the bill as originally prepared, but was stricken 
out before it was finally passed : 

Whenever there shall be a vacancy in the trustees, com- 
missioners, or managers of any commission or other bodies 
appointed to the charge of any property of the state other than 
for eleemosynary, charitable, administrative, or punitory pur- 
poses, and of the character of that mentioned in the second sec- 
tion of this act, the same shall be filled by one of the trustees 
of the corporation hereby created, to be selected by said trus- 
tees; and when the terms of office of all the members or any of 
said commission, trustees, or managers now appointed to take 
charge of such state property shall have expired, then its charge 
and management shall wholly devolve upon the corporation 
hereby created. 



TRUSTEES 



>cenic Gir\d j4isf orlc places and ® bjecf s. 



New York, April 6th, 1895. 
A meeting of the Trustees of Scenic and Historic Places and 
Objects was held this day at the Park Bank in the City of New 
York. 
Present : 
William H. Webb, Andrew H. Green, 

J. M. Francis, William Allen Butler, 

Horace Porter, Edward P. Hatch, 

Walter S. Logan, Mornay Williams. 

Henry E. Howland, 
A note was received from Mr. Oswald Ottendorfer saying he 
was unable to be present. 

On motion, Mr. Webb was elected Chairman of the meeting, 
and Mr. Howland Secretary. 

The proposed By-Laws were read by Mr. Green, and adopted 
section by section. On motion, the By-Laws were adopted as 
a whole as follows. 

Mr. Butler moved that the Board proceed to the election of a. 
President. The motion was adopted. 

On motion of Gen. Porter, Mr. Andrew H. Green was unani- 
mously elected President. 
Mr. John M. Francis was elected Vice-President. 
Mr. Edward P. Hatch was elected Treasurer. 
Mr. John Winfield Scott was elected Secretary. 



12 

Gen. Horace Porter was elected Chairman of the Executive 
Committee. 

Mr. Walter S. Logan was elected on the Executive Com- 
mittee. 

Mr. William H. Webb was elected a member of the Execu- 
tive Committee. 

Mr. Henry E. Howland was elected a member of the Execu- 
tive Committee. 

Mr. Depew, Mr. Babcock, and Mr. Gerry were elected the 
Einance Committee. 

HENRY E. HOWLAND, 

Secretary of Meeting. 



BY»LAWS. 



ARTICLE I. 

Section 1. The office and place of business of the " Trustees 
of Scenic and Historic Places and Objects " shall be in the City 
of New York, where all meetings shall be held unless other- 
wise ordered. 

Sec. 2. The regular meetings of the Trustees shall be held 
on the first Wednesday in the months of February, May, 
August, and November, 

The first meeting of the members of the Corporation for the 
election of Trustees and for the transaction of such other busi- 
ness as may come before it, shall be held at the Park Bank in 
the City of New York on the first Wednesday of November, 
1895, at 3:30 P.M., and the annual meeting for these purposes 
shall be held on the first Wednesday in May of each year, 
notice of the hour and place of which shall be fixed by the 
Trustees and published in one daily newspaper in the City of 
New York. 

Sec. 3. Other meetings of the Trustees or Corporation may 
be held upon the call of the President or upon the written re- 
quest of three Trustees. A majority of the Trustees shall con- 
stitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and at meet- 
ings of the Corporation the members present shall constitute a 
quorum for the transaction of business. 

Notices of meetings of Trustees shall be sent to each Trustee 
at least forty-eight hours before the time of meeting. 

ARTICLE IL 

Section 1. The officers of the Corporation shall be a President, 
Vice-President, and Treasurer, all of whom shall be Trustees, 



14 

and shall be elected or appointed annually at the meeting of 
the Trustees on the first Wednesday in November. 

The first President, Vice-President, and Treasurer shall be 
-elected at the meeting at which these By-Laws are adopted, and 
shall hold office for one year, or until others are elected in their 
stead. There shall be a Secretary, who shall hold office at the 
pleasure of the Board. 

Sec. 2. The President shall preside at all meetings of the 
Trustees and of the Corporation ; he shall appoint all Com- 
mittees and be, ex officio, a member of all standing Committees, 
except where otherwise expressly relieved from such service, and 
have a general supervision of the affairs of the Corporation. 

Sec. 3. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President 
shall perform the duties and possess the powers of the Presi- 
dent. In the absence of both President and Vice-President a 
Chairman pro tempore shall be chosen. 

Sec. 4. The Treasurer shall receive, collect, and hold subject 
to the order of the Board of Trustees all moneys, securities, and 
other property of the Corporation, pay all bills when approved 
by the Trustees or the Executive Committee, and shall render 
a report of its finances at each meeting of the Board of Trus- 
tees, and an annual report at the annual meeting of the Cor- 
poration. 

Sec. 5. The Secretary shall keep the records of the Corpora- 
tion and of the Board of Trustees and of Committees, issue all 
notices, and, when directed by the Board, affix the seal of the 
Corporation. 

ARTICLE III. 

Section 1. The order of business at meetings shall be as fol- 
lows, unless otherwise ordered : 

1. Roll call. 

2. Reading the minutes of the meetings not previously read. 

3. Election of Trustees and Officers. 

4. Communications. 

5. Reports of Committees. 

6. Report of the Treasurer. 

7. Miscellaneous business. 

Reports and resolutions shall be in writing. The yeas and 



15 

nays shall be called on all resolutions authorizing the expendi- 
ture of money, and on all other questions when requested by 
one Trustee. 

ARTICLE IV. 

Section 1. There shall be two Standing Committees, an Ex- 
ecutive Committee and a Finance Committee. The Executive 
Committee shall consist of four Trustees, in addition to the 
President. They shall have general management of the affairs 
of the Corporation, subject to the approval of the Board, and 
shall meet once a month. Three of their number shall con- 
stitute a quorum. 

Sec. 2. The Finance Committee shall consist of three mem- 
bers, and shall have authority at any time to inspect the books 
and accounts of the Treasurer, give directions to him, and ex- 
ercise a general supervision over the property of the Corpora- 
tion. 

Sec. 3. The persons named in the first section of the act 
creating the Corporation, and such others as shall become 
associated with them in the manner and upon the terms and 
conditions of these By-Laws, shall be members of this Corpora- 
tion. 

ARTICLE V. 

MEMBERSHIP. 

Section 1. Any member of the Corporation may propose per- 
sons for membership. The name and place of residence of 
every person proposed shall be submitted to the Board or to the 
Executive Committee, and such person, when approved by the 
Board or by said Committee, shall b3 a member of the Corpora- 
tion so long as such person shall pay to the Treasurer the dues, 
which shall be ten dollars annually in advance. 

Sec. 2. Any member of the Corporation may become a Life 
Member by payment to the Treasurer, at one time, of the sum of 
one hundred dollars. 

Sec. 3. Any member of the Corporation may become a 
Patron by giving real or personal property of the value of five 



16 

hundred dollars or more, and thereafter such Patrons shall be- 
exempt from payment of annual dues. 

Sec. 4. Neither the Corporation nor any of its Trustees or 
officers shall contract any debt which, with debts existing, shall 
exceed in amount the moneys then in the treasury. 

ARTICLE VI. 

AMENDMENTS. 

Section 1. Amendments to these By-Laws may be proposed 
in writing at any meeting of the Trustees, and adopted by unani- 
mous consent of the Trustees present. Action on a proposed 
amendment may be postponed until a subsequent meeting, in 
which case the Secretary shall, with the notice of the next 
meeting, send a copy of the proposed amendment, stating that 
it will be brought up for action at such meeting, at which 
meeting it may be passed by a majority vote. 







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